Machine for cleaning streets.



No. 707,367. Patented Aug. I9, 1902.

J. Tminv.

MACHINE FOR CLEANING STREETS.

(Application filed Dec. 28, 1901.)

(No Model.)

W VgTNESSES I $67; TOZQ. Y

W, Y M

m: NORRIS PETERS co. woroumo wAsmNuTom n. c.

NITED STATES PAT N OFFICE.

JOSEPH TI-IERY, JOLIET, ILLINOIS.-

MACHINE FOR CLEANING STREETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,367, dated August 19, 1902. Application filed December 23, 1901. Serial No. 86,901 (ITO model.)

To all whom it mag concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPHTHERY, a citizen of France, residing at J oliet, in the county of Will and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Cleaning Streets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for cleaning streets, and more especially to that class of machines which is designed to remove snow and ice from streets and sidewalks.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine that may be pushed or pulled by any suitable motive power and as it is brought in contact withthe snow or ice will melt same and permit the resulting water to flow away into suitable sewers or other conduits usually provided.

My invention consists generally of a fuelbox or combustion-chamber adapted to rest on the snow or ground, means for producing a blast of air within the combustion-chamber, and the carrying or supporting means, all of which will be pointed out, together with other and minor features forming part of the machine.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on a horizontal plane of the machine, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on a vertical plane of the same.

Referring to the drawings in detail,'A represents the main portion of the machine, which is essentially a' cornbustion c'hamber and is preferably made of sheet-iron in the shape shown. bottom a, vertical parallel sides a a curved top portion and with doors a in the top, through the ways of which lump fuel-such as coal, coke, charcoal, &c.may be introduced.

Extending under the chamber A a few inches below the grating a is an ash-pan B, which in addition to serving to catch the ashes from the chamber A also serves as a base upon which the forward-portion of the machine is carried as it is drawn or pushed over the snow. At the forward end or nose driven by the wheel 0 It is formed with a grated of the machine the bottom or ash-pan is pro- 'vided with an upwardly-curved runner or sh'oe'b, which serves to throw upwardly that portion of the machine should it strike an obstruction.

Secured at the rear of the combustion-chamher are parallel bars 0 O, suitably braced by cross-bars c and supported at their outer ends by ground-wheels c 0 to which is secured a shaft 0 Fixed on the shaft between the wheel 0 and one of the shafts or bars 0 is a sprocketheel 0 over which travels a sprocket-chain c Mounted in suitable bearings d in the bars 0 is a shaftd to which is secured a rotating fan D and a sprocket-wheeld the latter placed in line with the sprocket-wheel c and adapted to carry the sprocket-chain c and to be-driven thereby, said chain being in turn Surrounding the fan isa cas'ing'E, having the usual air-inlet opening in one side, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The casing is formed with a forwardly-projecting and gradually-contracting nozzle c, which near its outer end is bent downwardly to form a vertical portion, as 6 the lower. end of which communicates with air-conducting pipes e arranged in bifurcate form at the bottom of the chamber and adjacent to its rear wall. These pipes have small openings in the upper side through which the air is forced by the action of the driven fan, thus producing an air-blast at the bottom of the bed of coals in the combustionchamber and creating an intense heat within said chamber. The smoke and gases pass to the upper part of the chamber and escape through suitable openingsa in the rear vertical wall of said chamber on each side of the nozzle of the fan-case.

The machine may be propelled in any suitable manner, the required connections being made either at the rear of the machine to push it over the snow or at the front end to pull it. Such connections,however, form no part of the invention and are not shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to obtain by Letters Patent, is

1. A machine for cleaning streets of snow and ice, composed of a wedge-shaped com bustion-chamber having a grated bottom and IOC with openings at the top for the escape of the products of combustion, a frame secured at the rear of said chamber, ground-Wheels supporting said frame, a fan-case supported on said frame and having a tapering nozzle extending therefrom, a rotatable fan mounted within the fan-case and means for driving said fan, and means communicating with said tapering nozzle whereby'the air from said case may be distributed throughout said chamber.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a wedge-shaped combustionohamber having a grated bottom and with openings at the top for the escape of products of combustion, a frame secured at the rear of said chamber, ground-Wheels supporting said frame, a fan-case secured to said frame, a rotatable fan mounted in said case, means for driving said fan from the ground-Wheels, a nozzle projecting from and communicating with the fan-case, pipes located within the combustion chamber, having air openings therein and communicating with said nozzle, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH TI-IERY.

Witnesses:

PHILIP LE SAGE, F. BENJAMIN. 

